Chapter 25: Give Them an Inch, They Take a Mile

"Didn't I just say that if your family doesn't have enough money, everyone here can lend you some?"

"And what did you tell me? You said that borrowed money has to be paid back!"

"Do you hear yourself? Is that even human talk?"

"In this village, who hasn't faced hard times? Who else among us is like you, deciding to just discard a healthy child as if she were nothing?"

"Miss Xie is in debt herself. Her injuries have only just healed, yet she runs up the mountain every day. The little money she’s managed to save, she’s willing to spend on saving Xiao Ya. And you? All of you? You are her own father, mother, brother, and sister!"

"She can't interfere in your family affairs, is that it? Well, can I, as the village head, interfere?"

"Tell me right now: are you going to pay for Xiao Ya’s treatment yourself, or are you going to sell her to Miss Xie and let her pay for it?"

"If you're doing this just to be stubborn, willing to watch Xiao Ya draw her last breath, then I’ll have someone fetch your Fifth Granduncle right now. I’ll ask him if the Liu clan can tolerate a wretch like you, someone cruel enough to let their own daughter die!"

The Liu families, like the Wang family, were all refugees who had settled in Mingfu Village.

Their clan's eldest and most respected member, Fifth Granduncle, had a temper far more explosive than the village head’s. As a clan elder, he had even more authority to intervene in the Liu family's private matters than the village head did.

It was only because of his advanced age that the Liu family didn't dare drag him out in the middle of the night; otherwise, his cane would have already been raining down on Shuanzi's father.

Hearing the village head threaten to call his Fifth Granduncle, Shuanzi’s father immediately caved. "My family simply doesn't have the money. Since that stinking... since Miss Xie has so much, she can just pay Dr. Chen."

Village Head Chen sneered, "What? Do you expect her to pay for your daughter's treatment for nothing?"

Shuanzi’s father shifted his eyes, avoiding the gaze. "Well, I can't really sell Xiao Ya, can I? The villagers would point fingers at me behind my back!"

Village Head Chen couldn't stand his twisted logic and was about to lash out, but a group of lean, elderly women who were equally fed up beat him to it.

One gray-haired old woman spat on the ground in disgust. "You scared a perfectly good child into a life-threatening illness, and now you won't pay for her treatment—you weren't afraid of people pointing fingers then! But now, when you're asked to sell her, you're suddenly afraid? If you care so much about your reputation, then pay for the child's treatment yourself!"

Another old woman beside her added, "You just see that Miss Xie is kind-hearted and can't bear to see the child die, so you think you’ve got her cornered and want her to pay for everything out of the goodness of her heart? Does anyone really think we can't see through your little tricks?"

***

The old women, who had many sons, nephews, and a large clan behind them, weren't afraid of Shuanzi's father. If this wretch dared to lay a finger on them, they would move into his house and eat every last grain of rice he owned!

Their children, grandchildren, and relatives would surely demand justice for them, beating Shuanzi’s father until he howled.

Facing the accusations and finger-pointing of the old women, Shuanzi’s father felt his dark face burn with shame.

He didn't dare continue giving Miss Xie a hard time, fearing that these old women would latch onto the smallest detail and concoct a dozen charges against him.

He still had to live in the village, and his second son still needed to find a wife; he couldn't afford to ruin his family's reputation.

"Fine, fine, I can't win against you lot," Shuanzi’s father said, stepping back two paces. "Since you all think selling her is better, then I'll sell her, won't that do?"

Village Head Chen’s nose was almost crooked with rage. "So now it’s like we’re the ones forcing you?"

Shuanzi’s father quickly shook his head. "No, no, you're doing this for Xiao Ya's sake."

He didn't dare go against the will of the crowd.

"Then that's settled," Xie Wanniang said, turning to Dr. Chen and Shuanzi's mother. "Auntie, please carry her to Jiang Yuan’s house and put her in my room for now. Master..."

Dr. Chen nodded. "I’ll go to your place to treat the little girl."

He paused and added, "To fully cure her, you'll need at least eight hundred to a thousand wen. When you sign the deed, if her family tries to squeeze you for more, just forget about buying her."

Xie Wanniang smiled. "Don't worry, I’m not some fool with more money than sense."

She looked at Jiang Yuan. "Ah Yuan."

Jiang Yuan nodded. "I'll go open the door for them."

Xie Wanniang turned back to Shuanzi’s mother, who was standing there hesitating, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something. "Auntie, aren't you going to bring Xiao Ya out? Her illness can't wait any longer, can it?"

***

Shuanzi’s mother remained rooted to the spot. Wiping away tears, she said to Xie Wanniang, "Miss Xie, since you have money, could you lend us some? Once Xiao Ya is better, I'll have her work for you to pay it back."

Xie Wanniang finally saw the true colors of these people. She turned to Village Head Chen and the surrounding crowd. "Uncle Village Head, everyone here—grandpas, grandmas, uncles, aunties—I’ve been treated like a total pushover. In that case, I'll keep my charity to myself."

As she turned to leave, Shuanzi’s mother tried to grab her, but Xie Wanniang dodged with agile grace.

Xie Wanniang looked back, frowning at Shuanzi’s mother. "Auntie, one shouldn't push their luck. Just because someone is kind doesn't mean they are easy to fool. You should understand that, right?"

"The village head just said that if your family is in trouble, the villagers can lend you money. You were the ones who said borrowed money has to be paid back and that you couldn't borrow it!"

"So why is it that you can borrow my money? Are you planning to default on my money without paying it back?"

"You talk about having Xiao Ya work off the debt. She’s five years old, but she’s the size of a three-year-old in this village. Not only is she short, but she’s also nothing but skin and bones. What could I possibly have her do? Pick wild herbs? Gather firewood?"

"My master just said it would cost at least a thousand wen to cure her. Auntie, how much firewood and how many wild herbs would Xiao Ya need to gather to pay back that amount?"

"Would I have to hire a middleman just to keep track of the accounts and calculate the value of the firewood and herbs she brings me every day?"

"It’s not worth it, is it? I don't think it's worth it either! But I also don't want to be kind enough to lend you money, only to have my reputation ruined along with my silver!"

The villagers began to whisper among themselves. Most agreed that Shuanzi’s mother was taking advantage of Xie Wanniang’s kindness, her youth, and, most importantly, the fact that she was an outsider, planning to find a way to make the debt disappear.

After all, as Xie Wanniang said, Xiao Ya was just a tiny thing; what could she possibly do to earn money and pay off a debt?

They would have her bring a bit of firewood and herbs to Xie Wanniang every day. In three or five years, when Xiao Ya was eight or ten and finally useful at home, they would announce that she had worked for Xie Wanniang for four or five years, claiming that the debt had long been settled, and naturally, they wouldn't have to pay back the loan.